I left the meeting yesterday evening with a heavy heart. Birds in the wild are becoming extinct, while cages are filling up and their gene pool is weakening due to unnatural conditions. If this continues, in the future there will not be any birds either in the wild or in captivity. The following people were on the panel: Eileen McCarthy, of the Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services (MAARS) Marc Johnson of Foster Parrots Sanctuary in Rockland, Mass. Jacque Schultz, Outreach Director of the ASPCA Elizabeth Keller, Director of Shelter Operations at the AC&C of NYC Mark McDonald, Law Enforcement of the ASPCA Jane Hoffman, President & Chairwoman of The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals President Susan Leary of the American Anti-Vivesection Society Denise Kelly of the Avian Welfare Coalition Conditions for birds are much more serious than I thought, sanctuaries are overcrowded, laws and regulations for the protection of birds are virtually non-existent and shelters do not have the room or facilities and are ill equipped to house homeless birds even temporarily. Man is the biggest predator of birds and the most dangerous. This was confirmed when one of the guests turned around and said with a smile to someone sitting next to me "We want them and we don't care". The person smiled back and nodded in agreement. Eileen McCarthy of MAARS confirmed that parrots should remain free flighted at all times, it is better for their physical, emotional well being and longevity, a fact that we at the New York Bird Club have been passionately advocating for. She told us that no matter how long avians remain in captivity, they will never become domesticated, but retain their natural instincts. This is true even of small birds such as finches and canaries. After the meeting ended, I spoke briefly with Mark MacDonald, Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement with the ASPCA, who reported that the ASPCA does not set the guidelines for cruelty, but only follows them, guidelines are set by Ed Boyce of the Dept of Health and the US Dept. of Agriculture local inspections. Correct me if I am wrong. On a more promising note, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has declared January 5th officially as Bird Day and signed a Proclamation to that effect. Thank you Mayor Bloomberg. The meeting has strengthened our Club's conviction that parrots do not make good pets, do not belong in our homes, and breeders and pet stores should be stopped from selling this kind of merchandise. Our money can be more wisely spent on conservation efforts and ecotourism which support impoverished countries so that there is no need for citizens to poach parrots to support their families. In these countries a family can live on about $100 a year. Illegal trade in wildlife ranks third in profitability following illegal drugs and arms. http://www.api4animals.org/articles?p=507&more=1 We urge everyone to open up their minds and hearts to the plight of captive birds everywhere and say a silent prayer for this cross that they must bear. | 
